Wringer mop



J. L. NILSON June 9, 1936.

WRINGER MOP Filed Oct. 16, 1935 Patented June 9, 1936 UNITE STATES ATENT OFFICE My invention relates to a twist wringer type of mop.

Among the objects of my invention is to create a wringer mop having a torque arm structure for holding the wringing mechanism and the swab in fixed wringing position, said torque arm structure having a retaining rod slidable on the torque arm and adapted to lock by gravity in an offset on the torque arm, said locking means of the torque arm structure being instantaneously releasable by the same hand of the operator that performs the wringing operation; to supply a torque arm structure in which the above mentioned locking means is directly in the line of vision of the operator during the wringing operation thereby obviating the necessity and confusion of requiring the operator to look elsewhere for the release means; to provide a torque arm structure which confines the retaining rod between the wringing mechanism and the handle, thus eliminating any projections of the retaining rod outsideof or beyond the handle at any stage of moving the torque arm structure from or to the handle, thus eliminating material and damage likely to be caused by extraneous projecting parts, this improved structure also providing a more substantial wringer mop, and such other objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and which are inherently possessed by my invention.

While I have shown in the accompanying drawing a preferred embodiment of my invention yet I wish it understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawing: Fig. l is a front elevational view of the wringer mop; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing my wringer mop in wringing position; and Fig. 4 is a detailed view of the retaining rod and torque arm in locked position.

My wringer mop comprises an elongated handle ill, a torque arm structure H, a wringing mechanism 52, a swab holder l3 connected to the bottom of the handle it] and a swab is extending between the holder 13 and the wringing mechanism 12.

Referring more particularly to my torque arm structure II, it comprises a torque arm I5 pivoted transversely to the axis of said handle I!) to swing toward and away from said handle and bent substantially at a right angle to form a bearing I6 for a U-shaped member I! of the wringing mechanism 12. A retaining rod I8 is pivotally mounted on one end to the handle I!) at a point 'oifset from the pivot point of the torque arm 55, the other end of the retaining rod i8 having a loop 19 surrounding the torque arm l5 and slidable thereon. On the torque arm l5 adjacent the bearing l6 where the torque arm enters the U shaped member I! is an offset 20.

In use it will be noted that when the operator unfolds my wringer mop so as to use the wringing mechanism [2 that the retaining rod l8 will slide on the torque arm l5 until the loop I9 of the retaining rod enters into and engages the offset Zil of the torque arm l5 thus locking the wringing mechanism G2 in fixed position. It will also be noted that the loop I9 is larger in diameter than the diameter of the torque arm I 5 so that upon the operator lifting or applying pressure to the lower part of the loop l9 said loop is thereby lifted out of and free from the offset 28 of the torque arm l5 and the retaining rod l3 can then slide so that my wringer mop may be folded for use.

While I have shown in the drawing that my torque arm l5 has a pair of substantially parallel portions 2! and 22 yet it is obvious that the second parallel portion 22 may be eliminated and nuts or other means fastened to the end of the bent over portion or bearing l6 of the torque arm it to prevent dislodgment of the U-shaped member I! and said torque arm l5 may have means at the other end to prevent dislodgment from the handle I 9. I prefer, however, to use both of the parallel portions 2| and 22 of the torque arm l5 and to have them so constructed that a pair of bent portions 23 and 24 are adapted to fit into an opening 25 going through to either side of the handle it and thus pivot the torque arm to said handle.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a wringing mechanism of the mop a torque arm construction for retaining the wringer mop in wringing position comprising an elongated handle, a torque arm pivoted transversely to said handle to swing toward and away from said handle, and a retaining rod pivotally connected on one end to said handle at a point offset from the pivot point of said torque arm, and having its other end loosely slidably mounted on said torque arm.

2. In a wringer mop, a torque arm construction comprising an elongated handle, a torque arm pivoted transversely to said handle to swing to- Cal ward and away from said handle, a retaining rod having one end pivotally mounted to said handle at a point ofiset from the pivot point of said torque arm and having a loop on its other end, said loop loosely surrounding said torque arm and slidable thereon, said torque arm having an offset adapted to engage said loop for holding the wringing mechanism of the mop in fixed wringing position.

3. In a wringer mop, a torque arm construction comprising an elongated handle, a torque arm pivoted transversely to said handle to swing toward and away from said handle, a retaining rod having one end pivotally mounted to said handle at a point offset from the pivot point of said torque arm and having a loop on its other end, said loop loosely surrounding said torque arm and slidable thereon, said torque arm having an offset adapted to engage by gravity said loop for holding the wringing mechanism of the mop in fixed wringing position, said loop being larger in diameter than the diameter of said torque arm so that upon pressure being applied to the lower portion of said loop said loop may be lifted out of engagement from the offset on said torque arm and release the wringing mechanism of the mop from fixed wringing position.

4. In a wringer mop, a torque arm construction comprising an elongated handle, a torque arm pivoted transversely to said handle to swing toward and away from said handle, a retaining rod having one end pivotally mounted to said handle at a point offset from the pivot point of said torque arm and having a loop on its other end,

1 said loop loosely surrounding said torque arm and slidable thereon, said torque arm having an ofiset so that as the torque arm structure is moved away from said handle for a wringing operation, the retaining rod will slide on the torque arm until the loop engages by gravity the offset and holds the wringing mechanism of the mop in fixed wringing position, said loop being larger in diameter than the diameter of said torque arm so that upon pressure being applied to the lower portion of said loop said loop may be lifted out of engagement from the offset on said torque arm and release the wringing mechanism of the mop from fixed wringing position, said ofiset placed on said torque arm adjacent the wringing mechanism so that the wringing mechanism and the locking means are all within the same line of vision of an operator of the wringer mop.

5. In a wringer mop, a torque arm construction comprising an elongated handle, a torque arm one end pivotally mounted to said handle at a point oifset from the pivot point of said torque arm and having a loop on its other end, said loop loosely surrounding one of the legs of said torque arm and slidable thereon, said torque arm having an offset on one of its legs adapted to engage said loop for holding the wringing mechanism of the mop in fixed wringing position.

6. In a wringer mop, a torque arm construction comprising an elongated handle, a torque arm having a pair of substantially parallel legs pivoted transversely to said handle to swing toward and away from said handle, a retaining rod having one end pivotally mounted to said handle at a point ofiset from the pivot point of said torque arm and having a loop on its other end, said loop loosely surrounding one of the legs of said torque arm and slidable thereon, said torque arm having an offset on one of its legs adapted to engage by gravity said loop for holding the wringing mechanism of the mop in fixed wringing position, said loop being larger in diameter than the diameter of the leg of said torque arm so that upon pressure being applied to the lower portion of said loop said loop may be lifted out of engagement from the offset on the leg of said torque arm and release the wringing mechanism of the mop from fixed wringing position.

7. In a wringer mop, a torque arm construction comprising an elongated handle, a torque arm having a pair of substantially parallel legs pivoted transversely to said handle to swing toward and away from said handle, a retaining rod having one end pivotally mounted to said handle at a point offset from the pivot point of said torque arm and having a loop on its other end, said loop loosely surrounding one of the legs of said torque arm and slidable thereon, said torque arm having an oiTset on one of its legs so that as the torque arm structure is moved away from said handle for a wringing operation, the retaining rod will slide on the torque arm until the loop engages by gravity the oiTset and holds the wringing mechanism of the mop in fixed wringing position, and said loop being larger in diameter than the diameter of the leg of said torque arm so that upon pressure being applied to the lower portion of said loop, said loop may be lifted out of engagement from the ofiset on the leg of said torque arm and release the wringing mechanism of the mop from fixed wringing position, said offset placed on the leg of said torque arm adjacent the wringing mechanism so that the wringing mechanism and the locking means are all within the same line of vision of an operator of the wringer mop.

JOHN L. NILSON. 

